Ticket prices surging during LeBron James’ record chase

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Ticket prices during LeBron James’ record chase are getting ridiculous

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Jason Burgos | Last updated 2/2/23

Lebron James is closing in on making NBA history, and your bank account might be history if you want to attend one of the upcoming Lakers' home games during which James could break the record.

The 2022-23 season has been extremely frustrating for the Lakers. Despite a roster that boasts three All-Star-level talents and a new head coach in Darvin Ham, the team has hovered below .500 for most of the season and outside the playoff picture.

They have battled through more injuries to star Anthony Davis and the lack of assets that could help facilitate and game-changing trade. That is why Lebron James’ chase to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader has become the top storyline in Laker-land at the moment.

The future Hall-of-Famer could surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points this week, and in anticipation of that possibility, ticket prices for Lakers home games have increased to obscene levels.

With James just 89 points away from the record and averaging just over 30 points a game, there is a real possibility that he could break the NBA scoring record in the Lakers' homes games against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 7 or Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 9.

On Wednesday, CBS Sports reported on the massive price increase on Vivid Seats for the team’s next two home games, and the jump from the normal rates is unbelievable. For the matchup against the Thunder, the average prices for a seat in Crypto.com arena are $1,152, with the cheapest tickets going for $326. For the game against the Bucks, average rates are at $1,307 while the lowest rates on that night are $357.

There is a real chance Lebron James could beat the record before then. However, with the four-time NBA MVP having a flair for the dramatic, trying to hold off on breaking the record until it can be done in front of Lakers fans is fitting. Abdul-Jabbar was a member of the organization when he passed Wilt Chamberlain back in April 1984.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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